Secretary-General: COP30 is over, but our responsibility is not

I thank President Lula da Silva, COP 30 President Andre do Largo and his team, the Government of Brazil, the people of Belém, and the UNFCCC Secretariat for their hospitality and tireless efforts to make this COP possible.

At the gateway of the Amazon, Parties have reached an agreement.

This shows that multilateralism is alive, and that nations can still come together to confront the defining challenges no country can solve alone.

COP30 has delivered progress – including a call to triple adaptation finance by 2035 as a first step towards closing the adaptation gap;

A Just Transition Mechanism to support countries in protecting workers and communities as they shift to clean energy;

A new dialogue aimed at enhancing international cooperation on trade;

The recognition that we are now heading for a temporary overshoot above 1.5 degrees Celsius;

The launch of a Global Implementation Accelerator to close the ambition and implementation gaps and accelerate the delivery of Nationally Determined Contributions;

And a recognition to take forward the outcomes of the UAE Consensus, which includes a just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels.

But COPs are consensus-based – and in a period of geopolitical divides, consensus is ever harder to reach.

I cannot pretend that COP30 has delivered everything that is needed.

The gap between where we are and what science demands remains dangerously wide.

I understand many may feel dissapointed – especially young people, Indigenous Peoples and those living through climate chaos.

The reality of overshoot is a stark warning: we are approaching dangerous and irreversible tipping points.

Staying below 1.5 degrees by the end of the century must remain in humanity’s red line.

That requires deep, rapid emission cuts – with clear and credible plans to transition away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy.

It requires climate justice and a massive surge in adaptation and resilience – so communities on the frontlines can survive and recover from the climate disasters to come.

And it requires far more climate finance for developing countries to reduce emissions, protect their people, and address loss and damage.

COP30 is over, but our work is not.

I will continue pushing for higher ambition and greater solidarity.

To all those who marched, negotiated, advised, reported and mobilised: do not give up.

History is on your side – and so is the United Nations.

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